U.S. patent number 6,167,799 [Application Number 09/591,129] was granted by the patent office on 2001-01-02 for tamale and vegetable steaming device.
Invention is credited to Mary A. Macias.
United States Patent |
6,167,799 |
Macias |
January 2, 2001 |
Tamale and vegetable steaming device
Abstract
The tamale and vegetable steaming device including a cylindrical
pot portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end. A
cylindrical insert is positionable within the cylindrical pot
portion. The cylindrical insert has an open upper end, a closed
lower end, and a cylindrical side wall therebetween. The
cylindrical side wall has a plurality of apertures therethrough in
a spaced relationship. The insert being positionable within the pot
portion whereby the closed lower end of the insert is elevated
above the closed lower end of the pot portion. The insert has a
flattened arc portion extending a height thereof. The flattened arc
portion creates a separation between the insert and the pot portion
whereby water can be added to the pot portion through the
separation.
Inventors: |
Macias; Mary A. (Buena Park,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
24365164 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/591,129 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
99/413; 99/403;
99/410; 99/415; 99/417; 99/418 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
27/04 (20130101); A47J 36/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
27/04 (20060101); A47J 36/00 (20060101); A47J
36/20 (20060101); A47J 027/00 (); A47J 027/04 ();
A47J 027/10 (); A47J 037/06 (); A47J 036/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;99/339,340,403-418,449,450,444-446 ;126/373,376,369,377,350,20
;210/465-469,244-246,475,477 ;220/912,428 ;219/401,521
;426/510,511,523 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Simone; Timothy F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Goldstein & Canino
Claims
What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the United States is as follows:
1. A tamale and vegetable steaming device for allowing tamales and
vegetables to be steamed while easily monitoring water levels to
prevent burning comprising, in combination:
a cylindrical pot portion having an open upper end and a closed
lower end, the cylindrical pot portion being fabricated of a
transparent material, the pot portion having a pair of
diametrically opposed handles extending outwardly therefrom
downwardly of the open upper end, the pot portion having an annular
line extending therearound upwardly of the closed lower end, the
open upper end having an annular lip extending outwardly therefrom,
the pot portion including a cover portion dimensioned for
positioning over the open upper end, the cover portion having a
handle secured thereto; and
a cylindrical insert positionable within the cylindrical pot
portion, the cylindrical insert having an open upper end, a closed
lower end, and a cylindrical side wall therebetween, the
cylindrical side wall having a plurality of apertures therethrough
in a spaced relationship, the open upper end having an annular lip
extending outwardly therefrom, the annular lip resting on the
annular lip of the pot portion whereby the closed lower end of the
insert is elevated above the closed lower end of the pot portion,
the insert having a flattened arc portion extending a height
thereof, the flattened arc portion creating a separation between
the insert and the pot portion whereby water can be added to the
pot portion through the separation, the flattened arc portion
having a handle extending outwardly thereof adjacent to the open
upper end of the insert.
2. A tamale and vegetable steaming device for allowing tamales and
vegetables to be steamed while easily monitoring water levels to
prevent burning comprising, in combination:
a cylindrical pot portion having an open upper end and a closed
lower end; and
a cylindrical insert positionable within the cylindrical pot
portion, the cylindrical insert having an open upper end, a closed
lower end, and a cylindrical side wall therebetween, the
cylindrical side wall having a plurality of apertures therethrough
in a spaced relationship, the insert being positioned within the
pot portion whereby the closed lower end of the insert is elevated
above the closed lower end of the pot portion, the insert having a
flattened arc portion creating a separation between the insert and
the pot portion whereby water can be added to the pot portion
through the separation.
3. The tamale and vegetable steaming device as set forth in claim
2, wherein the cylindrical pot portion is fabricated of a
transparent material.
4. The tamale and vegetable steaming device as set forth n claim 2,
wherein the pot portion has a pair of diamtetrically opposed
handles extending outwardly therefrom downwardly of the open upper
end.
5. The tamale and vegetable steaming device as set forth in claim
3, wherein the pot portion has an annular line extending
therearound upwardly of the closed lower end.
6. The tamale and vegetable steaming device as set forth in claim
2, wherein the pot portion includes a cover portion dimensioned for
positioning over the open upper end thereof.
7. The tamale and vegetable steaming device as set forth in claim
6, wherein the cover portion has a handle secured thereto.
8. The tamale and vegetable steaming device as set forth in claim
2, wherein the flattened arc portion has a handle extending
outwardly thereof adjacent to the open upper end of the insert.
9. The tamale and vegetable steaming device as set forth in claim 2
and further including an annular ring positionable within the pot
portion on the closed lower end thereof, the annular ring having
apertures therethrough, the annular ring receiving the insert
thereon for elevating the insert with respect to the pot
portion.
10. The tamale and vegetable steaming device as set forth in claim
2, wherein the open upper ends of the pot portion and the insert
each having an annular lip extending outwardly therefrom, the
annular lip of the insert resting on the annular lip of the pot
portion whereby the closed lower end of the insert is elevated
above the closed lower end of the pot portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tamale and vegetable steaming
device and more particularly pertains to allowing tamales and
vegetables to be steamed while easily monitoring water levels to
prevent burning.
The use of steaming devices is known in the prior art. More
specifically, steaming devices heretofore devised and utilized for
the purpose of steaming foods are known to consist basically of
familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations,
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded
prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of
countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,017 to Bowen discloses a
steamer comprised of a transparent dish in the bottom for holding
water; however, the invention is primarily intended for microwave
cooking. U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,424 to Guajaca discloses a steamer
comprised of horizontally stacked racks adapted for steaming
tamales. U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,753 to Naft discloses a steam cooking
device with a liquid reservoir in the base.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective
and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a
tamale and vegetable steaming device for allowing tamales and
vegetables to be steamed while easily monitoring water levels to
prevent burning.
In this respect, the tamale and vegetable steaming device according
to the present invention substantially departs from the
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so
provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of
allowing tamales and vegetables to be steamed while easily
monitoring water levels to prevent burning.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing
need for a new and improved tamale and vegetable steaming device
which can be used for allowing tamales and vegetables to be steamed
while easily monitoring water levels. In this regard, the present
invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of steaming devices now present in the prior art, the present
invention provides an improved tamale and vegetable steaming
device. As such, the general purpose of the present invention,
which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to
provide a new and improved tamale and vegetable steaming device
which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the
disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a
cylindrical pot portion having an open upper end and a closed lower
end. The cylindrical pot portion is fabricated of a transparent
material. The pot portion has a pair of diametrically opposed
handles extending outwardly therefrom downwardly of the open upper
end. The pot portion has an annular line extending therearound
upwardly of the closed lower end. The open upper end has an annular
lip extending outwardly therefrom. The pot portion includes a cover
portion dimensioned for positioning over the open upper end. The
cover portion has a handle secured thereto. A cylindrical insert is
positionable within the cylindrical pot portion. The cylindrical
insert has an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a cylindrical
side wall therebetween. The cylindrical side wall has a plurality
of apertures therethrough in a spaced relationship. The open upper
end has an annular lip extending outwardly therefrom. The annular
lip rests on the annular lip of the pot portion whereby the closed
lower end of the insert is elevated above the closed lower end of
the pot portion. The insert has a flattened arc portion extending a
height thereof. The flattened arc portion creates a separation
between the insert and the pot portion whereby water can be added
to the pot portion through the separation. The flattened arc
portion has a handle extending outwardly thereof adjacent to the
open upper end of the insert.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its application to the details of construction and
to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out
in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved tamale and vegetable steaming device which has all the
advantages of the prior art steaming devices and none of the
disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved tamale and vegetable steaming device which may be easily
and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved tamale and vegetable steaming device which is of
durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved tamale and vegetable steaming device which is
susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both
materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of
low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a
tamale and vegetable steaming device economically available to the
buying public.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a
new and improved tamale and vegetable steaming device for allowing
tamales and vegetables to be steamed while easily monitoring water
levels.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved tamale and vegetable steaming device including a
cylindrical pot portion having an open upper end and a closed lower
end. A cylindrical insert is positionable within the cylindrical
pot portion. The cylindrical insert has an open upper end, a closed
lower end, and a cylindrical side wall therebetween. The
cylindrical side wall has a plurality of apertures therethrough in
a spaced relationship. The insert being positioned within the pot
portion whereby the closed lower end of the insert is elevated
above the closed lower end of the pot portion. The insert has a
flattened arc portion extending a height thereof. The flattened arc
portion creates a separation between the insert and the pot portion
whereby water can be added to the pot portion through the
separation.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming
a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the
invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects
attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated
preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment
of the tamale and vegetable steaming device to constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention illustrated in
use.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention as taken
along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the
various figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS. 1
through 3 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved
tamale and vegetable steaming device embodying the principles and
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the
reference number 10 will be described.
Specifically, it will be noted in the various figures that the
device relates to tamale and vegetable steaming device for allowing
tamales and vegetables to be steamed while easily monitoring water
levels to prevent burning. In its broadest context, the device
consists of a cylindrical pot portion and a cylindrical insert.
Such components are individually configured and correlated with
respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.
The cylindrical pot portion 12 has an open upper end 14 and a
closed lower end 16. The cylindrical pot portion 12 is fabricated
of a transparent material. Ideally, the pot portion 12 will be
fabricated of glass to allow the contents to be easily viewed. The
transparent material will also enable one to see if more water is
needed. The pot portion 12 has a pair of diametrically opposed
handles 18 extending outwardly therefrom downwardly of the open
upper end 14. The pot portion 12 has an annular line 20 extending
therearound upwardly of the closed lower end 16. The annular line
20 will serve as a fill line for water when added to the pot
portion 12. The open upper end 14 has an annular lip 22 extending
outwardly therefrom. The pot portion 12 includes a cover portion 24
dimensioned for positioning over the open upper end 12. The cover
portion 24 has a handle 26 secured thereto.
The cylindrical insert 28 is positionable within the cylindrical
pot portion 12. The cylindrical insert 28 has an open upper end 30,
a closed lower end 32, and a cylindrical side wall 34 therebetween.
The cylindrical side wall 34 has a plurality of apertures 36
therethrough in a spaced relationship. The open upper end 30 has an
annular lip 38 extending outwardly therefrom. The annular lip 38
rests on the annular lip 22 of the pot portion 12 whereby the
closed lower end 32 of the insert 28 is elevated above the closed
lower end 16 of the pot portion 12. The insert 28 has a flattened
arc portion 40 extending a height thereof. The flattened arc
portion 40 creates a separation between the insert 28 and the pot
portion 12 whereby water 42 can be added to the pot portion 12
through the separation. Note FIG. 2. The flattened arc portion 40
has a handle 44 extending outwardly thereof adjacent to the open
upper end 30 of the insert 28. The handle 44 facilitates the
removal of the insert 28 from the pot portion 12.
Alternatively, the annular lips 22, 38 can be replaced by an
annular ring 46. Note FIGS. 1-3. The annular ring 46 positionable
within the pot portion 12 on the closed lower end 16 thereof. The
annular ring 46 has apertures 48 therethrough. The annular ring 46
receives the insert 28 therein for elevating the insert 28 with
respect to the pot portion 12. Preferably, the annular ring 46 will
have a height consistent with the annular line 20 of the pot
portion 12.
The transparent material constructing the pot portion 12 allows the
water level to be easily monitored without having to remove the lid
24 or move the contents of the pot portion 12. Additionally, the
tamales or vegetables that are being cooked can also be easily
monitored. When the water level is becoming too low, the lid 24 is
simply removed and water is added to the pot portion 12 without
removing the insert 28 or pouring over the contents through the use
of the separation that is created by the flattened arc portion
40.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention,
the same should be apparent from the above description.
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage
and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *